Rumored threats spark concern, absences at Houma school

Rumors of possible violence at Evergreen Junior High today caused many parents to hold their kids back from school despite assurances from officials that the rumors were false.

Matthew AlbrightStaff Writer

Rumors of possible violence at Evergreen Junior High today caused many parents to hold their kids back from school despite assurances from officials that the rumors were false. The Houma school reported that more than 200 students were absent this morning, Terrebonne Parish schools Superintendent Philip Martin said.“That's more than twice the number that are usually out," Martin said. School officials had incorrectly told The Courier this morning that only 65 students had been absent. Martin said the mistake was caused by a reporting error at the central office. The rumors about a possible threat started Monday on social media sites Facebook and Instagram.An Evergreen student posted that she had heard rumors of a possible school shooting to occur on Thursday.“Do not, I repeat, do not go to school on Thursday. Someone is supposed to be shooting, rumor has it!” the student posted.School staff under the direction of retired veteran school administrator William Simmons investigated and found that no serious threat existed, Martin said.The investigation revealed that the possible violence the post mentioned originated in a dream one of the student's friends had. “We want to be clear. Nobody made any actual threats,” Martin said. “This started in a dream, and once it got posted on Facebook, it became a rumor, and it spread from there.” Terrebonne sheriff's detectives said they investigated and learned the source of the threats was a 13-year-old girl who told friends on campus that she had a dream that a shooter was to harm students at school this morning. One of the friends who heard about the dream posted the threat on Facebook, causing alarm among many students and parents, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release today.The post was removed immediately from Facebook, and the student who posted the threat was charged with terrorizing, according to the Sheriff's Office. The 14-year-old student who posted the Facebook message, whose name was withheld because she is a minor, was expelled and charged with terrorizing. The student who initially reported the threats was suspended by school officials.The Sheriff's Office assigned about 20 deputies to Evergreen Junior High this morning. As each student entered the campus, he or she was searched with hand-held electronic metal detectors while school staff members searched their bags and personal items. K-9 officers also searched the interior of the school for any illegal narcotics. No weapons or contraband were found this morning, the Sheriff's Office said.Despite officials' assurances, some parents remained concerned, posting on Facebook that they were worried for their children's safety. Many of those parents said they were concerned because a letter the school sent home with students Wednesday about the incident didn't mention the student got the rumors from another student's dream.“Yesterday afternoon, we were advised of a possibility that someone may cause harm to students and faculty,” the letter says. “The results of the investigation have determined that an Evergreen student created and posted a comment on Facebook that caused concern. With the assistance of the sheriff's office, students involved in this incident have received the appropriate disciplinary action.”Some parents said they were worried about sending their kids to school after hearing the rumors.“I'm definitely not wanting to send my kid back until I know this has been resolved,” said Trisha Verdin on Facebook. “Too many mistakes have happened in the past shootings, thinking that the problem was solved and it wasn't.” The policy in Terrebonne public schools, like most schools, is to treat any threat of violence with “the utmost seriousness.” Each school has its own lockdown plan in case violence does break out, which students and staff practice regularly.After the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., left 20 young children and six adults dead, local school staff and law enforcement worked to boost safety training. Experts with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office went to each school for training sessions, and extra deputies were assigned for more frequent visits to campuses.

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